Conditions of the Treaty of Nanking

Primary Source Document
with Questions (DBQs)
E X C E R P T S F R O M T H E T R E A T Y O F N A N J I N G , A U G U S T 1 8 4 2
Introduction
Following China’s defeat by the British in the Opium War of 1839-1842, the following conditions were imposed on
the Chinese government by the British in a treaty signed in the city of Nanjing (Nanking).
Document Excerpts with Questions
From Changing China: Readings in the History of China from the Opium War to the Present, by J. Mason Gentzler (New York: Praeger
Publishers, 1977). © 1977 Praeger Publishers. Reproduced with the permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.
Excerpts from The Treaty of Nanjing, August 1842
Article I
There shall henceforth be Peace and Friendship between … (England and China) and between
their respective Subjects, who shall enjoy full security and protection for their persons and
property within the Dominions of the other.
Article II
His Majesty the Emperor of China agrees that British Subjects, with their families and
establishments, shall be allowed to reside, for the purpose of carrying on their commercial
pursuits, without molestation or restraint at the Cities and Towns of Canton, Amoy, Foochowfu,
Ningpo, and Shanghai, and Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, etc., will appoint
Superintendents or Consular Officers, to reside at each of the above‑named Cities or Towns, to
be the medium of communication between the Chinese Authorities and the said Merchants, and
to see that the just Duties and other Dues of the Chinese Government as hereafter provided for,
are duly discharged by Her Britannic Majesty’s Subjects.
Article III
It being obviously necessary and desirable, that British Subjects should have some Port whereat
they may careen and refit their Ships, when required, and keep Stores for that purpose, His
Majesty the Emperor of China cedes to Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, etc., the Island
of Hong‑Kong, to be possessed in perpetuity by her Britannic Majesty, Her Heirs and
Successors, and to be governed by such Laws and Regulations as Her Majesty the Queen of
Great Britain, etc., shall see fit to direct.
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EXCERPTS FROM THE TREATY OF NANJING, AUGUST 1842
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Article V
The Government of China having compelled the British Merchants trading at Canton1 to deal
exclusively with certain Chinese Merchants called Hong merchants (or Cohong) who had been
licensed by the Chinese Government for that purpose, the Emperor of China agrees to abolish
that practice in future at all Ports where British Merchants may reside, and to permit them to
carry on their mercantile transactions with whatever persons they please, and His Imperial
Majesty further agrees to pay to the British Government the sum of Three Millions of Dollars,
on account of Debts due to British Subjects by some of the said Hong Merchants (or Cohong)
who have become insolvent, and who owe very large sums of money to Subjects of Her
Britannic Majesty.
Article VII
It is agreed that the Total amount of Twenty‑one Millions of Dollars, described in the three
preceding Articles, shall be paid as follows:
Six Millions immediately.
Six Millions in 1843 …
Five Millions in 1844 …
Four Millions in 1845 …
Article IX
The Emperor of China agrees to publish and promulgate, under his Imperial Sign Manual and
Seal, a full and entire amnesty and act of indemnity, to all Subjects of China on account of their
having resided under, or having had dealings and intercourse with, or having entered the
Service of Her Britannic Majesty, or of Her Majesty’s Officers, and His Imperial Majesty further
engages to release all Chinese Subjects who may be at this moment in confinement for similar
reasons.
Article X
His Majesty the Emperor of China agrees to establish all the Ports which are by the 2nd Article
of this Treaty to be thrown open for the resort of British Merchants, a fair and regular Tariff of
Export and Import Customs and other Dues, which Tariff shall be publicly notified and
promulgated for general information, and the Emperor further engages, that when British
Merchandise shall have once paid at any of the said Ports the regulated Customs and Dues
1 Guangzhou
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EXCERPTS FROM THE TREATY OF NANJING, AUGUST 1842
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agreeable to the Tariff, to be hereafter fixed, such Merchandise may be conveyed by Chinese
Merchants, to any Province or City in the interior of the Empire of China on paying further
amount as Transit Duties which shall not exceed ___ percent2 on the tariff value of such goods.
Questions:
1. How would the conditions laid forth in this treaty affect the fiscal health of
the Qing empire?
2. In China, (and in many Western texts), the Treaty of Nanjing is called the first
of the “unequal treaties.” Is the term “unequal treaty” justified by the
content and wording of the treaty? Please explain.
3. On the British side, whose interests are best served by this treaty? In other
words, who or what kind of people stand to gain?
4. Are there Chinese who might gain something from some of the terms of this
treaty? Explain.
2 Tariff schedules were not settled at this time. The tariff rates on various goods were fixed after further
discussions; they averaged about five percent.